Red dog is a card game also referred to as yablon or red dog poker. The game first rose to popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries as a kind of in-between or acey-deucey. Though the game is not as popular today in real world casinos, it is still a big hit with online casinos.
The game is played by placing a wager before two cards are placed face up on the table. If the two cards have consecutive numbers such as a 7 and an 8 or a jack and a queen, the hand is referred to as a push in which case the player gets their wager back. Card suits do not count for anything. If the two cards have a similar value, then the dealer moves on to deal a third card and if the third card is also of the same value, then the wager is paid at 11-1. If not, the hand remains a push. If the first two cards dealt do not adhere to any of the conditions aforementioned, then a third card is dealt which should remain between the values of the first two cards or else the bet is lost. If the third card warrants a payment to the player, it is called a spread and is paid according to a set of rules set for the spread.
One interesting aspect about the game is that the house edge reduces as the decks of cards increase. In most card games, typically the house edge increases when more decks of cards are used.